Radio frequency filters covered by feed boards

Abstract

Radio frequency (RF) devices are provided. An RF device includes a filter bank including a plurality of RF filters that each have a plurality of resonators. Moreover, the RF device includes a feed board that covers and is coupled to the filter bank. The resonators include in-line resonators and/or resonators that are part of a printed circuit board.

1 . A radio frequency (RF) device comprising:
 a filter bank comprising a plurality of RF filters that each comprise a plurality of resonators; and   a feed board that covers and is coupled to the filter bank.   
     
     
         2 . The RF device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter bank further comprises two metal shells that separate the resonators of different ones of the RF filters from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The RF device of  claim 2 , wherein the resonators of all of the RF filters are part of a single flat piece that is between the two metal shells. 
     
     
         4 . The RF device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the filter bank further comprises a conductive housing comprising a plurality of inner walls that separate the resonators of different ones of the RF filters from each other,   wherein the resonators of a first of the RF filters are part of a first flat piece that is supported by a first ledge portion of a first of the inner walls, and   wherein the resonators of a second of the RF filters are part of a second flat piece that is supported by a second ledge portion of a second of the inner walls.   
     
     
         5 . The RF device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the filter bank further comprises a conductive housing comprising a plurality of inner walls that separate the resonators of different ones of the RF filters from each other, and   wherein the resonators and the inner walls are all part of a single piece.   
     
     
         6 . The RF device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a first surface of the feed board comprises a plurality of radiating elements thereon,   wherein a second surface of the feed board comprises a ground plane thereon and is opposite the first surface, and   wherein the ground plane covers the resonators.   
     
     
         7 . The RF device of  claim 6 , further comprising a tuning lid that is opposite the ground plane,
 wherein the resonators are respective planar resonators that are between the tuning lid and the ground plane.   
     
     
         8 . The RF device of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second RF connectors that couple the resonators of a first of the RF filters to the feed board,
 wherein the resonators of the first of the RF filters comprise eleven in-line resonators that are between the first and second RF connectors.   
     
     
         9 . The RF device of  claim 8 , wherein the resonators of the first of the RF filters further comprise first and second hanging-rejection resonators that are not between the first and second RF connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The RF device of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB),
 wherein the resonators of a first of the RF filters are in line with each other and are part of the PCB, and   wherein the resonators of a second of the RF filters are in line with each other and are part of the PCB.   
     
     
         11 . The RF device of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB),
 wherein a first of the resonators of a first of the RF filters is part of the PCB and is opposite and coupled to two others of the resonators of the first of the RF filters, and   wherein a first of the resonators of a second of the RF filters is part of the PCB and is opposite and coupled to two others of the resonators of the second of the RF filters.   
     
     
         12 . The RF device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio connector that is coupled to the feed board,
 wherein the radio connector comprises a stepped-impedance conductor having multiple diameters.   
     
     
         13 . The RF device of  claim 12 , further comprising a low-pass filter that comprises a metal trace that is on the feed board and coupled to the radio connector. 
     
     
         14 . The RF device of  claim 13 , wherein the feed board comprises an opening therein that is spaced apart from the radio connector. 
     
     
         15 . A radio frequency (RF) device comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a plurality of in-line resonators of a plurality of RF filters of a filter bank; and   a feed board that covers and is coupled to the PCB.   
     
     
         16 . The RF device of  claim 15 ,
 wherein a first and a second of the in-line resonators of a first of the RF filters comprise first and second resonator stalks, respectively, and first and second resonator heads, respectively, that extend from the first and second resonator stalks, respectively, and   wherein the PCB further comprises a metalized opening that is between and coupled to the first and second resonator heads.   
     
     
         17 . The RF device of  claim 16 , wherein the PCB further comprises an opening that is between the first and second resonator stalks and is wider than the metalized opening. 
     
     
         18 . The RF device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the filter bank comprises a conductive housing that comprises an inner wall that is between the first of the RF filters and a second of the RF filters, and   wherein the inner wall is between the feed board and the PCB.   
     
     
         19 . The RF device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the in-line resonators comprises a first metal layer on a first surface of the PCB and a second metal layer on a second surface of the PCB that is opposite the first surface. 
     
     
         20 . A radio frequency (RF) device comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a plurality of RF filters that each comprise first and second rows of PCB resonators,   wherein each of the PCB resonators of the first row of a first of the RF filters is opposite and coupled to two of the PCB resonators of the second row of the first of the RF filters, and   wherein each of the PCB resonators of the first row of a second of the RF filters is opposite and coupled to two of the PCB resonators of the second row of the second of the RF filters; and   a feed board that covers and is coupled to the PCB.   
     
     
         21 .- 23 . (canceled)